Malware/Spyware: a good real-time set-up?

I have read a lot of posts and Blackspear's security recommendations for security. Since Ad-Aware, Spybot S&D, Microsoft/Giant Antispyware, and Spyware blaster all having the option of running real-time and doing various things to monitor registry entries, IE browser hijacks and spyware/malware installations.

My question is: Which one(s) should I run? I can imagine problems trying to let all of them run.

I would guess that the Microsoft is good to run because it is more or less native to the OS.

Spybot has Tea timer and "browser helper" - do these overlap the Microsoft product and if so should they be running (either one?) with or without MS/Giant?

I have not tried spyware blaster at all. I will if it is recommended by you guys. Again, though, with or without the other(s) running real-time.

I think that you have to pay for Ad-Aware's real time scanning. I am looking for free programs. So it would be out.

Yes, that table shows clearly what each of the mentioned softwares do exactly.
Based on that table, I removed WinPatrol from my computer.
The combination "MSAS realtime + SpywareGuard + SpywareBlaster" is much stronger than WinPatrol, if you check the table.
WinPatrol overlaps also the combination "MSAS realtime + SpywareGuard + SpywareBlaster".
So you get often double warnings from MSAS and WinPatrol.
MSAS is quick, while WinPatrol is much slower in reporting changes.

SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard are so silent, I always forget I have them on my computer.
Any security software should act like this, because they don't disturb the busy user while he is working

I have read a lot of posts and Blackspear's security recommendations for security. Since Ad-Aware, Spybot S&D, Microsoft/Giant Antispyware, and Spyware blaster all having the option of running real-time and doing various things to monitor registry entries, IE browser hijacks and spyware/malware installations.

My question is: Which one(s) should I run? I can imagine problems trying to let all of them run.

I would guess that the Microsoft is good to run because it is more or less native to the OS.

Spybot has Tea timer and "browser helper" - do these overlap the Microsoft product and if so should they be running (either one?) with or without MS/Giant?

I have not tried spyware blaster at all. I will if it is recommended by you guys. Again, though, with or without the other(s) running real-time.

I think that you have to pay for Ad-Aware's real time scanning. I am looking for free programs. So it would be out.

Thanks,

B.

Click to expand...

brjoon1021,

AFAIK, SpywareBlaster is passive in the registry, so does not run realtime and is recommended by many.

I personally do not like Spybot S&D's TeaTimer - found it to be too heavy handed. Maybe someday in the future I'll give it a 2nd chance.

I run Microsoft Anti-Spyware Beta with realtime enabled. Looks good to me.

I also update but do not run AVG, Ad-Aware and Spybot in realtime, but only on demand about once a week. Also, A2 (a-squared), and Ewido several times a week.

I do run Spy Sweeper (paid) by Webroot Shields - no conflict with MS AS Beta.

I also run PC-Cillin Internet Security 2005 (paid) and ZoneAlarm Free firewalls, in addition to PC-Cillins realtime scanner. PC-Cillin also has a security scanner and a spyware scanner which I schedule for once a day.

I use GhostSurf Pro for privacy management.

My browser is Firefox with Spoofstick and NoScript extensions.

Also have Hosts file, IE-SPYAD, Snoopfree anti-keylogger, EasyCleaner, and Erunt for registry backup/restore.

So I do a few things, that have nothing to do with security softwares, to compensate my minimum security setup.

01. I don't use any P2P software.
02. I don't download any freeware, unless I really need it and is approved my security forums.
03. I don't visit sites with porn, cracks, serials, illegal softwares, etc.
04. I don't open my spam-emails and ignore/delete when I receive them.
05. I don't chat anymore on IRC.
06. I keep my computer as impersonal as possible, except initials, first name and email-address.
07. I keep my personal files on CD-RW, except the ones I'm working on.
08. I de-activate my internet connection, when I don't need it.
09. I turn off my computer at night.
10. I reformat my harddisk twice a year. I cherish these two moments of having a clean computer.

Simple things, that only require discipline, but very effective and proven.
My boring scanners report nothing, even the very best don't find anything and my Hijackthis Log is clean.
My computer works fine but slow, not because of malware, but because of installed security softwares.

One big disadvantage : most of my fun is gone on the internet.
I had a very good time on the internet, when I didn't care about security, because I didn't know.
Maybe I should buy ShadowSurfer or ShadowUser to get that freedom back in stead of being so carefull all the time, which is very boring.